Cheap Caribbean Cruises

Are you looking for warm sun and glorious relaxation without emptying your bank account? Then perhaps a cruise boat bound for the Caribbean Sea is in your future. Cheap Caribbean cruises are plentiful thanks to the geographical closeness the Caribbean Sea shares with important cruise ports.

Cruises from Florida are most common, as the U.S. state features at least six solid options for departure cities, including Tampa. Such proximity - combined with plenty of demand - means that many options exist for the traveler seeking fun and sun on a cheap Caribbean cruise.

Cruises to the Caribbean have a wide variety of destinations and stopping points. The cities of Cancun, Cozumel, Panama City, and San Juan are all popular destinations for cruises in and around the Caribbean. And though not technically in the Caribbean Sea, the Bahamas are typically a stopping point for longer cruises bound for the Caribbean.

Of course, finding discount cruises to the Caribbean does take a little effort and planning. I'd suggest signing up for Cruise Critic's free weekly newsletter, which often includes cheap Caribbean cruise deals and sales. Outside of newsletters, you can always turn to looking for Caribbean cruise deals at online travel agencies like Orbitz. And don't forget to check out the incredibly useful CruiseCompete search tool for finding cheap Caribbean cruises. Finally, remember that if you're looking to cruise at the last minute from the U.S., you need to book your Caribbean cruise at least a week before it sets sail due to federal regulations.

I also managed to find a cheap Caribbean cruise using AOL Travel's search tool. The thing I like about this tool is that I can sort by "price per night." (I'd actually like it more if I could apply the same sort to oceanview rooms, balcony rooms, and suites. As is, it only sorts based on the inside cabin price.) As of this writing, I was able to find a five-night Celebrity cruise with an oceanview cabin to the Western Caribbean for a cheap $52 a night. If you're willing to take an inside cabin, you can get that price down to $45 a night or less.

To learn more about Caribbean cruises and what they have to offer, I recommend checking out Sherri Eisenberg's piece "Explore the Caribbean by Cruise." It highlights the budget and luxury Caribbean cruises that typically sail.